Stephen Alpheatus Corker was born May 7th, 1830 in Burke County Georgia which is near Augusta. He died in Waynesboro, Georgia on October 18, 1879. He was a lawyer, soldier and US Congressman. These letters were written mostly to his wife before the War between the States, during the War and after when he served in the 41st US Congress. These letters tell the span American history from 1859 to 1872. "Copyright, 2012, John C. Hall, Jr."

Friday, May 18, 2012

December 25, 1862


6

Camp near Fredericksburg, Va

Dec.r 25th /62

My Dear Wife-

            As you will perceive I am writing you on Christmas day & tho I could not be with you as I fondly hoped yet all my heart & all my thoughts are there. Stern is the necesity Stern the requirements of Country that keeps me from a hapy reunion this day with those I love & cherish as my life. But so it is & verily I believe we will have our reward. God –as we are in a Holy cause- will bless us & our happiness I feel assured will come by & by. Another year of misery of bloodshed of devastation, of the moan of the dying & the wail of the widow & the fatherless is almost gone, but; we are still spared the pane of that sepparation that death brings tho we have offered in common with most of our felow citizenry our life & our all on the altar of our common country. So we may say God has blessed us always. I know my dear wife that you have long before this looked for me with that keen vision that constant anxiety that the wife, Nay, the fond loving wife can only keen & feel & know has been my sorrow & pane when I have thought of your disappointment. But you know it was unavoidable [unclear]. I would have come if I posibly could, but the judgement of those appointed to look over the directing of our young Republic said no & I could not come.


             I have just laid aside my pen & eaten my dinner. What do you think darling I had for my Christmas dinner? Some biscuit & beef & that verry poor. Yesterday I ast all over the neighborhood for a turkery & some chickens but found none. So our dinner was dry. But we care not for that if we can get home soon  & see our loved ones. The Yankees I see have dispensed with the services of the arch fiend Seward & I think this augurs well. I hope still to get home in two weeks, so must it be, Darling! I have me now a good tent & nice little stove & am as comfortable & happy as I can be with out you. We have hay & straw on our tent floor & the warmth from the stove makes it cosy & agreeable. Our comply held a meeting yesterday & subscribed $239 to the relief of of the wives & children of deceased soldiers. We heard that when a soldier died the Sup’r [Superior?] Court struck his name from the list & would not give his family any thing. So you see he or they took thing with what the Court gave & what the soldier deserves from the government. We thought this horrible & we made up this money to send to their relief. It is to be sent to Bob Rowland to be distributed by him. Give my love to all. I will not write any more now. Kitt is well. I believe I wrote you that miss Emma says if she can get a music school she will leave Portsmouth & take charge of it. Good by your loving husband Fes.

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